Originally Posted By CMDad <<It used to be that something much smaller than that would cause a ride to go 101.>> Unless it changed in the past 10 years - if 2 effects are out it goes 101.
Originally Posted By Lee hisownself >>Unless it changed in the past 10 years - if 2 effects are out it goes 101.<< Helloooo....I'm looking at you, Everest...
Originally Posted By GOB Reportedly there are more broken effects and such at the DL Haunted Mansion than at the WDW, currently at least.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Helloooo....I'm looking at you, Everest...<<< More importantly... Spaceship Earth, too.
Originally Posted By TP2000 >>"Reportedly there are more broken effects and such at the DL Haunted Mansion than at the WDW, currently at least."<< I am fairly confident that at Disneyland at least both elevators work. ;-) I rode Mansion at Disneyland just last Friday as part of my compare/contrast assignment after riding Little Mermaid twice that same day. I didn't notice anything not working. In fact, I noticed how well it all looked and how all the little pop-ups and minor effects were all working and I wondered if the Mermaid effects will hold up as well. As for hyperbole, sure I served up a big helping of it. But really, you would think there would be some sort of rule that if the stretching rooms don't work that the ride has to shut down until they can get them working again. It's not even like they are real 80 passenger elevators, so the mechanics behind the gag can't be nearly as costly or complicated as the stretching rooms at Disneyland. And it's such an important part of the story and attraction, that if you aren't going to do it then why even bother? Can anyone even begin to defend this sort of operation? Is there anyone out there with some insight into Magic Kingdom management types who would decide this type of thing is acceptable to do repeatedly over a period of years and years? I'm totally baffled here. Can anyone explain it?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Don't give yourself the vapors dude. The reason for the decision is obvious... move more people through in a shorter period of time. Is it a good decision? No it is not. But the reason behind it shouldn't be a mystery to ANYONE!
Originally Posted By Mr X ***The reason for the decision is obvious... move more people through in a shorter period of time*** Actually, as SD talked about earlier, I wouldn't say this is the case (since the number of people you would actually move through would be minuscule at best if at all). More likely, it's being done to eliminate one or more employees per shift. In other words, cost cutting to the bare bones. Which, when you think about they think, makes a lot more sense. And also totally sucks (and proves that they really don't "get it").
Originally Posted By Mr X Makes PERFECT sense when you consider how the attraction operates...one employee opens the door and then enters the stretch room with the guests (I assume for safety reasons? I dunno why, but they're ALWAYS in there afaik)...thus a SECOND employee must be ready to open the doors for the next batch of customers. No stretch room? No need for a rotation. One CM can just keep opening the doors over and over. If they wanted to take it one step further, they'd simply prop the outside doors open and let the customers just shuffle their own way through to the loading dock (throw in some rope barriers so people know where to herd themselves). There ya go, I just saved them another employee or more per shift. You're welcome, sharp pencil boys! (I would also suggest eliminating the employee who guides the customers into the vehicles and let the customers just stumble their way onboard haphazardly (a nice brightly lit neon "Please Watch your Step! flashing sign before the moving sidewalk should keep the lawsuits at bay)... DisCo, I have a new address so make sure to check in with me before sending my consultation check! I just saved you a bundle!
Originally Posted By brotherdave This problem with the Stretch Rooms is not a new one. This has been going on intermintantly since my first visit in the 70s. Yep, even back in the "good old days" this happened! I remember during one of my first trips, both doors opened at the same time, which did spoil the illusion for me. Not only that, but the second stretch room doors unloaded at the same time as ours, which also didn't help. Thankfully, this seems to be more rare than the norm with both doors opening at once. Mistakes can happen. And in more cases than not in my nearly 40 years of visiting WDW, the foyer portrait had already changed, the intro narration was already finishing up, and the stretch room door already opened as we were entering the mansion. And this was 30+ years ago when that happened and continues to still happen today. Is this bad show? Absolutely. But it's certainly not a new problem. Does it happen every time I visit? No, but it certainly helps to be closer to the entrance door before entering to see the whole intro properly. Is this a reason to not visit WDW? Hardly, but it would be nice that everyone be treated to the same great show experience that was envisioned by the Imagineers who designed this masterpiece.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> More importantly... Spaceship Earth, too. << What's broken on Spaceship Earth? It's been a couple of years since I last saw it.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> And in more cases than not in my nearly 40 years of visiting WDW, the foyer portrait had already changed, the intro narration was already finishing up, and the stretch room door already opened as we were entering the mansion. And this was 30+ years ago when that happened and continues to still happen today. Is this bad show? Absolutely. But it's certainly not a new problem. Does it happen every time I visit? No, but it certainly helps to be closer to the entrance door before entering to see the whole intro properly. << It's been my experience, too, that the foyer painting preshow is over/impossible to hear in most cases. And I know this will ruffler the feathers of the most devout, but I also don't think seeing/hearing the foyer spiel is as important as experiencing the stretch room. Letting guests bypass the stretch rooms, however, is egregious. It wouldn't surprise me if Mr X is right about staffing being the cause. But sometimes it's probably hard to staff attractions completely when you have a bunch of flakey CMs who are working this job until something better comes along like a pyramid scheme or an illegal drug deal.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Is this bad show? Absolutely*** Yup. ***But it's certainly not a new problem*** Even if it's been going on for a long time, that doesn't make it okay. ***it certainly helps to be closer to the entrance door before entering to see the whole intro properly*** See, now I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure that every time (or *practically* every time, I don't want to claim 100% on this one in case my memory is just faulty) I've experienced the attraction in Tokyo they allow all the bodies to drag themselves inside, close the door so the room is nice and dark, and THEN the picture starts to change. Maybe that's just my imagination or perception or maybe I just happen to get inside early every time. But if not, why is it they can do it right in ONE place, and the other place with what is essentially a carbon copy of the ride can't seem to get it right?
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I also don't think seeing/hearing the foyer spiel is as important as experiencing the stretch room*** I tend to agree. But it does help to enhance the foreboding mood, and it's a great step by step process if done correctly (starting with the outdoor areas and getting increasingly creepier). ***Letting guests bypass the stretch rooms, however, is egregious*** Definitely! ***But sometimes it's probably hard to staff attractions completely when you have a bunch of flakey CMs who are working this job until something better comes along like a pyramid scheme or an illegal drug deal*** Better pay and benefits would alleviate a lot of that. Not all of it, but a lot. When you treat employees like McDonalds flunkies, that's the sort of employee you'll attract.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>Don't give yourself the vapors dude. The reason for the decision is obvious... move more people through in a shorter period of time. Is it a good decision? No it is not. But the reason behind it shouldn't be a mystery to ANYONE!<<< Not to be argumentative, but I don't understand how it can possibly let more people through the attraction. It's an omnimover. It goes at its pace and unless loading or unloading the occasional passenger it doesn't stop. You could have a million people in the foyer it can only carry the same number of people per day. I have never seen a time when there wasn't some degree of line at HM (at least at WDW) so all that wanted to ride it did. How would doing that change anything? I am thinking that Mr. X has this answer, opening the doors would cut down on the people required for the attraction, but I am at a loss to understand how it wouldn't be more costly to do that then keep people where they should be. Take a couple people away from selling the ever present Pins and put them on what actually brings people to the parks. (I know that it brings additional revenue to the parks, but still) Someone that likes Pins will find them even if only half the places exist. On a side note...I have been many times since 1983 and with the exception of one year (or day actually) when it was down for some reason, I have always experienced the stretch rooms just as they should be...operating. But then again, I have never been stuck on a ride that broke down or stopped more than 5 minutes ever. Must live right!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>>What's broken on Spaceship Earth? It's been a couple of years since I last saw it.<<<< The fact that the entire finale is nonexistent.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I am thinking that Mr. X has this answer, opening the doors would cut down on the people required for the attraction, but I am at a loss to understand how it wouldn't be more costly to do that then keep people where they should be. Take a couple people away from selling the ever present Pins...*** Unfortunately, it's not that simple (I used to think the same way til I worked at WDW and learned the ins and outs a bit). Each division has to take care of their own budgets, and attractions is separate from merchandise (or whatever category the traders fall into...outdoor vending or whatever). Beyond that, I think that even within attractions there are certain financial divisions, each responsible for keeping their own house in order. So in other words, if word comes down that X number of hours need to be eliminated per week (let's just say for the sake of argument it's the "Liberty Square attractions division", though I'm sure others know much more than I about how it works), the managers of the attractions have to get together and make a plan as to how to accomplish it. I know that there are cross-training programs and that different people can work on various attractions and stuff like that, but cross-training, too, costs money. In any case, it's more complex than just running to the nearest popcorn girl and ordering her to put on a Haunted Mansion costume (and even if they could, they'd have to clear it with the popcorn manager who also has HIS/HER own quotas and budgets to deal with).
Originally Posted By Mr X If you're speaking on a more macro level (they should hire less pin traders and more attractions people), that would certainly make sense IF show quality were of the utmost importance to them (and by them we're going higher up the food chain than simple attractions managers who can't just order up more staff on a whim and likely have very little say in the matter at all, I'd guess). This topic says otherwise, though.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>If you're speaking on a more macro level (they should hire less pin traders and more attractions people), that would certainly make sense<<< That is what I'm speaking about, but then if cross training is necessary, it should be done. I am not one to banter about the "what Walt would do" thing cause no one really knows, but I doubt that any of the attractions would not be sufficiently covered by personnel. I feel pretty sure about that. I do wish they would thaw him out, and let him run rampant through the parks.
